MARTIN, Tenn.– The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team jumped out to an early lead but fell to in-state rival Memphis, 7-3.
The Skyhawks (4-5) outhit the Tigers for the second straight day with seven base knocks on the evening. Seven different players recorded a hit for the Orange and Blue as Mac Danford (RBI double) had the only extra-base hit for either side. Zac Rice, Andrew Fernandez, Will Smith, Cole Smith (RBI), Cameron Brady and Jalen Fithian smacked base hits for UT Martin while Blaze Bell added an RBI.
Davis Gaston (two innings pitched) started the game for UT Martin and was followed by Dylan Lapic (0-1), who was charged with the tough-luck loss although he did not allow a hit over two innings. Campbell Cleveland followed with a scoreless frame while Baylor Jones (no earned runs), Eli Martin (two strikeouts) and Sam Smith (one strikeout) each tossed one inning apiece.
The Skyhawks came out of the gates locked in as Rice singled on the first pitch of the game. Fernandez followed with a single before Rice scampered home on an RBI groundout. After a Cole Smith single through the right side on a full count scored Hernandez, Danford crushed a double into the gap in left center to plate Cole Smith and make the score 3-0 in favor of UT Martin.
Gaston escaped a jam unscathed in the first inning before Memphis scored two unearned runs in the second. The Tigers evened the score in the third inning but Lapic silenced the Memphis bats in the fourth, retiring the side in order.
The Skyhawks started the top of the fifth with back-to-back hits but could not manufacture a run. The Tigers scored once in the bottom half of the inning to take a 4-3 lead.
Memphis added one run in each of the next three innings as the UT Martin bats could not solve a trio of Tiger relievers.
The Skyhawks once again return home with a three-game series on-deck against in-state foe Middle Tennessee. Game 1 is set for Friday, March 1 at 5 p.m.
